Short sentences look clean. They read fast. But cut the wrong word and the whole thing collapses. Short sentences only work when they contain a full idea: subject, verb, and enough context to make the action clear.
Why It Matters for Product Teams
Over editing creates robotic, brittle text, missing connectors can confuse non native readers, clarity comes from completeness rather than length, and short sentences still contribute to rhythm across a page or feature guide.
How to Apply It
Cut clutter, not clarity. Remove filler words without stripping the structure that makes the sentence work, and keep enough context for readers to follow the action. Check that each sentence expresses a full thought, watch for missing articles or connectors, read aloud to catch broken flow, and rewrite for clarity before trimming for brevity.
Examples
Not Effective: Restart app. Fix error.
Effective: Restart the app to fix the error.
Not Effective: Save file. Check results. Done.
Effective: Save the file, then check the results.
Concise does not mean incomplete. Short sentences still carry weight and need structure.
